Identifying Local Opportunities

1) "Wal-Mart to Shutter 269 Stores, 3 in Florida"

• http://www.tbo.com/news/business/wal-mart-to-shutter-269-stores-three-in-florida-20160115/
• Three stores are closing around the Tampa Bay area, and this is going to effect thousands of people. The stores are closing because of competition from online stores like Amazon. Wal-Mart is working on new ways to combat the newest competition they're facing. 
• The problem with 3 stores closing in Florida is all of the jobs that are going to be lost in these areas. Wal-Mart employs hundreds of people in a single store and provides a lot of workers with an important income in their life. 
• The problem is going to directly effect the current Wal-Mart workers, but also the consumers in the area. Wal-Mart customers are now going to have to go elsewhere and potentially pay more for their every day products. 

2) "Port Tampa Bay Looks to Keep Cruising Despite Restrictions on Mega Ships"

• http://www.tbo.com/news/business/port-tampa-bay-looks-to-keep-cruising-despite-restrictions-on-mega-ships-20160110/
• Without these giant "floating cities" coming into the port, officials think the area can still prosper. Because of bridge restrictions, Tampa is not able to allow the mega ships into their port, but they're researching other opportunities to make money in the cruise industry. 
• The problem with these restrictions involves Tampa missing out on potentially big money from these huge ships. These ships carry thousands of people who would pump money into the local economy. 
• This directly effects those working around the port because they might see a loss in business coming shortly. 

3) "Tourism, Downtown Groups Urge Progress on Go Hillsborough Plan"

• http://www.tbo.com/news/business/tourism-downtown-groups-urge-progress-on-go-hillsborough-plan-20151228/
• Because of the limited transportation options in Tampa, tourism is likely to shrink from its current record levels. "Go Hillsborough" is a plan funded to help improve transportation in the area and has been approved, but not much progress has been made. 
• The problem with the lack of progress on the transportation changes is that economic developers are hesitant to invest in Tampa until they see a better system of transportation in the area. 
• This is going to negatively effect businesses in the area that are looking to expand and develop but are held back by their corporate headquarters. 

4) "Hillsborough Commissioner Oks Deal with Bucs for Stadium Upgrades"

• http://www.tbo.com/sports/bucs/hillsborough-commission-oks-agreement-with-bucs-for-stadium-upgrades-20151216/
• The somewhat outdated Raymond James Stadium is going to undergo around $87 million in renovations. There were some problems with the local commissioners and protests, but the plan was finally approved and will begin this offseason. 
• The problem with these renovations is that $29 million will come from taxpayers in the Tampa Bay Area. Some people see this as a "waste of money" but others see the project as necessary for Raymond James Stadium because it is necessary if Tampa wants to host Super Bowls and other big events. 
• This is going to directly effect the taxpayers in Hillsborough County area. 

5) "Hillsborough County Commits $50 million to Vinik's Downtown Renaissance"

• http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/county-commits-50m-to-viniks-downtown-renaissance-20160122/
• This article discusses how Hillsborough County is going to give up to $50 million to assist on Vinik's Downtown Tampa project. The money will come from an increase in property values in the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area. 
• The problem involves the people currently living in the Downtown Tampa area that are soon going to be left without a place to live because of the redevelopment and new infrastructure. 
• The problem lies directly in the current residents in the Downtown Tampa Area.